Local, state and federal law enforcement agents swarmed a house Wednesday night in Elm City expecting a hostage situation — only to find out that the whole thing was a hoax.
The Nash County Sheriff’s Office along several other agencies responded to a 911 call at the house on the 5200 block of Overlook Drive in Elm City.
The caller indicated that a suspect shot a family member in the chest with an AR-15 and the shooter was holding three people hostage inside the house. The caller indicated the shooter made demands and issued threats of shooting law enforcement officers if they approached the house, said Nash County Chief Deputy Brandon Medina.
Neighboring residences were evacuated, and the Nash County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team was activated. Officers approached the house and determined the call to be a hoax. No one was injured during the incident.
The hoax, known as swatting, involves fake 911 calls that are often used to send SWAT teams to a victim’s residence. Law enforcement arrive on the scene on high alert, believing they have to contain a violent subject, only to encounter a frightened resident. Swatters use phone apps to make the number appear to come from the victim's phone.
“We respond to these types of calls prepared to encounter the unknown, especially after recalling that Halifax County had responded to a residence two days ago where a quadruple murder was discovered,” Medina said.
Detectives are currently following up on the 911 call to identify the person responsible for mobilizing at least 50 law enforcement, medical and emergency management personnel. The misuse of the 911 system is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 120 days in jail and a fine.
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